Late Ward goal earns Palace 2-2 draw at Fulham

LONDON : A late goal by Joel Ward rescued a 2-2 draw for Crystal Palace at Fulham on Saturday, after the hosts' striker Aleksandar Mitrovic bagged two goals on his first start since serving an eight-match ban.

Fulham have 52 points from 37 games - four behind ninth-placed Brentford - and remain 10th. Palace, who have 44, move up to 11th ahead of Chelsea, who play leaders Manchester City on Sunday.

Palace took the lead in the 34th minute when Odsonne Edouard's fierce effort completed a sweeping counterattack after the Frenchman was played through on goal by Eberechi Eze following a Fulham corner.

Fulham forward Harry Wilson was hacked down by Tyrick Mitchell just before halftime and Mitrovic stepped up to thump his penalty past Sam Johnstone to level the game.

The Serbian, playing without a number on his back after a bloody nose left him in need of a new shirt, put Fulham ahead in the 61st minute with a bullet header.

But Ward salvaged one point for the visitors in the 83rd minute when he stabbed home a rebound after Fulham failed to defend a set-piece.